Condensate control means for air conditioning apparatus



. y 1 c. R. NEESON ET AL 2,048,282

CONDEN SATE CONTROL MEANS FOR AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed March 281933 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS CRNEEsoN A.S-\ OCKE y 1936- c. RJNEESONEl AL 2,048,282

CONDENSATE CONTROL MEANS FOR AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Margh-28,1 933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 21, 1936. c. R. NEESON ET AL 2,048,282

CONDENSATE CONTROL MEANS FOR AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Marc 2h28, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS C. '2. NEESON AS. LOCKE ATTOR' Y y1936- c. R. NE-ESON ET AL 2,048,282

CONDENSATE CONTROL MEANS FOR AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed March 28,1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR A2 2. NEE5ON J l5 S. LOCKE- BY v A k /6ENEY Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES CONDENSATE CONTROL MEANS FORAIR CONDITIONING QI'PARA'I'US Charles It. Neeson, New Rochelle, N. Y.,and Arthur S. Locke, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Baldwin- SouthwarkCorporation, a corporation I of Delaware Application March 28, 1933,Serial No. teams 13 Claims. (Cl. 82-103) This invention relatesgenerally to an air conditioning unit of the type employing arefrigerating system for cooling or heating the rooms of homes orofiices, andrelates more particularly to improved means for, permittingaccumulated condensate to beconveniently and effectively disposed of atany time when it is desired to clean the unit or prepare it for inactiveuse over an extended period of time, thus insuring sanitation,

to a suitable receptacle disposed in a path of outside air which flowsover the condenser for cooling the same. The condensate is entrained bythis air and vaporized by the condenser heat to be effectively carriedto the outside air.

When operation of the unit is stopped, a certain amount of accumulatedcondensate still remains and it is desirable to dispose of this in aconvenient and effective manner in case the unit is to be cleaned ortobe left inactive for an extended period of time thusavolding'formation of slime or other deleterious conditions.

In the specific embodiments of the invention herein shown for purposesofillustrating certain forms among others that the invention might take,the condensate collecting and disposal means are shown preferably in theform of trays and are preferably removably disposed in the unit,although if desired a flx'ed receptacle may be 40 used in whichcasecertain aspects of our inventlon may be employed to suitably drain thereceptacle preparatory to inactive use. With removable trays it isdesirable to control or drain the accumulated condensate in such amanner that the possibility of leakage or spilling of water is reducedto a minimum upon removal of the trays.

It is one object of our invention to accomplish all of the foregoing ina simple, economical and effective manner. I

Another object is to provide an improved and simplified means wherebyliquid in two receptacles may be conveniently and effectively disposedof at the will of the operator.

A still further object is to provide animproved essarily, by conductingthe collected condensate arrangement which will compel proper control ofthe liquid before or during remoyal of the trays. In one aspect of theinvention, I provide a conduit, preferably flexible, adapted to beplaced preferably across the front of the trays and more 5 specificallyadjacent the handles thereof so that upon grasping the same to removethe tray the conduit will oifer so me obstruction to removal, or atleast it will serve as a reminder that it should be first disconnectedbefore removing the tray. 10 As specifically shown, a flexible conduitof sulficient length is intertwined through suitable openings in thetrays specifically the handle openings therefor, thus more positivelyinsuring proper operation and control of the liquid in the trays 15before removal thereof. I r

In another aspect of the invention I employ. a fluiddrainage controlvalve of such a type that it is opened automatically when a drainageconcally. By providing each tray with a valve of dult is associatedtherewith and upon disconnec- 16 .tion of the conduit the valve isclosed automatithe above type, I prevent drainage from a tray when ithas been disconnected but at the same time maintain the connection opentothe other :5 tray so that water may drain therefrom through theinterconnecting conduit which is preferably flexible, this flexibilitypermitting the liquid to be directed into any suitable pan or the likewhich may be placed on the floor adjacent the unit.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following description of the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. l is a perspective of an air conditioning 35 unit positionedadjacent a window of a room in which the unit is placed, therebypermitting outside air to be circulated over the condenser for: coolingthe same. An end door of the unit is omitted for purposes of showing'thegeneral ar- 40 rangement of parts;

I Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective of one end of the unit with one trayremoved and the other tray partially withdrawn and showing the manner inwhich liquid may be drained from the 45 tray, the end door of thecabinet also being removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the tray removed from Q 1 mg 2; q a i t Fig.4 is an enlarged end elevation of the trays showing the initialoperation in draining the first tray after disconnection of the'lntercommunicating conduit;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the liqum connection employed inour combination? to Fig. 6 is another modification showing a liquidconduit arranged to be broken in such a manner that liquid may besuitably drained from'each receptacle without the use of control valves,the conduit'being shown in its draining position;

Fig. 7 is a modification with an intercommuni- 'cating breakable valveconnection at the rear end of the trays.

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention which represents merelytwo forms among possible others that the invention might take, I

have shown a self-contained unit generally indicated at I. and having avertical axis' motorcompressor unit 2 adapted to compress a suitablerefrigerant which is condensed in a condenser 3 and evaporated in anevaporator l for the purposes of cooling room air circulated thereoverby a blower 5. blower draws air from the room into one end of thecabinetand through a suitable blower inlet 6 from which the air flows upwardlythrough a passage 4' and over -evaporathe window duct 1. In case theunit is used for heating the room air the complementary heat exchangeelements 3 and 4 may have their condenser and evaporator'functionsrsuitably interchanged thereby causing the heatexchangeelement 3 to serve as a condenser whereby room air will beheated in being circulated thereover. How- .ever, for purposes ofdescripton, the unit is herein considered as operating as a cooler, al-

though it will be understood that any of the functions and mode ofoperation described in connection with the control or draining of thecondensate would merely have to be reversed to ap; ply the same to theheating aspects of the unit.

Removably disposed within the passage 4' is a liquid tray generallyindicated at l0 which @ecifically is adapted to be longitudinallyremoved through a doorway I I at one end of the unit, the doorbeingpmitted for purposes of clearness. This tray is disposed preferablybeneath the evaporator 4 so as to collect any moisture that is condensedon the evaporator surfaces to drip downwardly therefrom. Thistray may beof any suitable form for collecting the condensate and at the same timepermitting upward flow of air .in passage-4'. One specific embodiment ofsuch a tray is'shown in Fig. 3, wherein a series of horizontal troughsl2 are laterally spaced apart to provide passageways l3 therebetween.These troughs are connected to headers I 4 andi5 suitably disposedbetween sides It and H. An end plate I3 is provided with asuitablehandle I! while the inner end of the tray is provided with asuitable recess to receive one of the two pressure reducing valvesassociated with each heat exchange element for purposes of permittingthe functions thereof to be interchanged. As the pecific manner ofeflecting said interchange of functions does not constitute a part ofthis invention, the same will not be described further.

The upper edges of the sides It and "are turned inwardly asshown moreparticularly at 2| and 22 in Figs. 3 and 4. The tray is inserted throughways 24 projecting inwardly of passage 4' fromeach of the upper cornersof opening 23.

Another condensate tray generally indicated at 25 is of the sameconstruction as tray l0 except that its cross sectional overalldimensions are-somewhat larger. This tray is longitudinally slidablydisposed in passage 9 preferablybeneath heat exchange element 3 whichnormally functions as a condenser when the unit operates as a roomcooler.

To supply fresh outside air to the circulation of room air a suitablefresh air duct 26 projects outwardly from the end cover l8! of tray 25and has a breakable joint connection with a suitable 'end chamber 21which communicates with the inlet 6 of room air blower 5. Correspondingparts of the two trays aregiven the same reference numbers except thatthe'numbers for tray 25 are primed.

To transfer condensate, which collects in collector troughs l2 andheaders l4 and I5, to the tray 25 and thus permit upward flowof outsideair through passages l3 to entrain the convalve connections 3! and 3| ofthe respective trays. These valves communicate with the front headers inthe left and right hand comers of the respective trays thus permittingthe conduit to'be efiectively associated with the handles I9 and IS in amanner to be described later. In

case heat exchange element 4 serves as the condenser, then thecondensate which collects on element 3 will flow through conduit 30 tothe tray beneath element 4' and thereafter be discharged into the roomair.

Valve connections 3| and 3| are of the same specific construction andhence it will suflice to describe only one thereof such as shown in Fig.'5, wherein a valve housing 32 has a reduced portion to provide ashoulder which is welded,

soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the end cover l3. A spring 33is interposed between the inner end of casing 32 and a valve disc 34,thus normally urging the disc toward a seat element 35 hereinspecifically shown as rubber, although it maybe of any suitableflexibleor rigid seat material held in position preferably by a screwthreaded plug 36. The disc 34 is slightly less ,in diameter than thebore 31 in which it is disposed while a suitable boss 38 encircled byspring 33 will sumci'ently prevent tilting or disalignment of .disc 34;.-A valve controlling element specifically in the form of an elbow 39 hasa cylindrical portion 40 adapted tobe inserted through and befrictionally held by seat material 35 to engage disc 34 and hold it awayfrom said seat. Lateral openings 4| allow communication between theelbow passage 42 and bore-31 which in I be seated before the cylindricalportion 40 of the .elbow' is completely removed from the valve disc.

The intercommunicating conduit 30 is preferably made of rubber thuspermitting the same to be readily slipped over a suitably corrugated endof elbow 39. Preferably this conduit extends from one valve 3|downwardly through handle l9 and-thence over the face of the trays. andup wardly through the handle IQ of tray thus to be inserted in valve 3|?although if desired this conduit may merely lie across the face of thetrays, or extend over said handles or in close relation thereto. Ineither case, however, it is seen that the arrangement of parts oiferssome obstruction or hindrance to removal of one tray unless theintercommunication is disconnected. In the arrangement wherein theconduit is disposed close to the handles without necessarily passingtherethrough, it is seen that the handles cannot be easily graspedwithout also grasping the conduit, thereby reminding the person of thenecessity of removing the same.

Operation-Assuming the unit to have operated sufficiently long toaccumulate condensate in the trays and that it is desired to. remove thesame for purposes of cleaning or inspection, asuitable door in thecabinet doorway l l first will be removed and then the operative willremove the elbow 39' from valve 3las'shown in Fig. 4.

Upon removal of elbow 39, the valve disc therefor is automaticallyseatedto prevent discharge of water from tray 25 but at the same timethe valve discfor valve 3i is maintained unseated by nipple 40, thuspermitting water from tray III to drain through elbow 38 to any suitablereceptacle 46 that might be placed upon the floor. when tray Ill hasbeen completely drained, it may be removed as shown in Fig. 3. Nipple 39will then be removed from its tray and nipple 39' inserted in valve 3|to thereupon drain tray 25. Upon insertion of nipple 39, the valve discof valve 3| is unseated, thereby permitting water to'be drained throughnipple 39 into the receptacle 45 as shown in Fig. 2. When tray 25 iscompletely drained, it may be removed without danger of spilling wateron the floor or without liability of waterdraining into the unit.

In the modification of Fig. 6 a preferably, but not necessarily,flexible conduit 50 is suitably con nected to trays-l0 and 25', theconduit having at all times constant communication 'with the trayswithout any valves being used;;' To compensate for this omission ofvalves andyet permit control and convenient disposal of the liquid inthe trays, there is provided a suitable breakable joint 5| disposedpreferably midway of the ends of the conduit. This joint may be ofsimple form such-as a pipe nipple slipped-into the ends of the conduitto connect the same, the conduit preferably being of rubber althoughmetal pipe sections may be used with a swivel joint connecting each pipesection with the trays in which case a rubber nipple may be used toconnect the adj acent ends of the pipe sections. Usual forms of gardenhose snap connections may also be used if desired. However, with anyformv of conduit or breakable joint it is seen that upon' breaking thejoint the two approximately equal length or separated conduit sectionsmay be turned downward to drain simultaneously the liquid from the traysinto a suitable receptacle on the floor. The conduit may be arrangedwithrespect to the trays being 'at the rear of the trays.

' communication between the trays.

and handles thereof in any of the manners used conduit 55 permanentlysecured to the unit frame in any suitable manner and having elbows 56,and '51 projecting forwardly to be slidably received in valves 58 and58' which are identical .to valves 3| and 3|. These valves are carriedby the trays similar to theprefe rredarrangement except of The trays areof the same construction as in Fig. 3 and when in normal position bothvalves are opened by the conduit elbows holding the valve discs ofitheir seats, thus allowing communication between the trays. To drain thetrays it is only necessary to first pull-out slightly and simultaneouslyboth trays thus causing both valves to close. The trays, one at a time,may then be completely removed with water therein and the water pouredtherefrom. The trays may then be reinserted into the unit thereby toopen the valves and allow From the foregoing disclosures it is seen thatI have provided an extremely simple arrangement whereby the condensateaccumulated in the unit may be conveniently and effectively drained ordisposed of in a'simple manner with arrangements having a low cost andwhich cooperate with removable trays to permit freedom and fullfunctioning of the removable features, this being accomplished withminimum possibility of spil ing water or allowing leakage thereof.

It will of course be understood by those skilled in the art that variouschanges may be made in details of construction andarrangement of partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

We claim:

'1. Air conditioning apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair .ofcondensate receptacles, a conduit adapted to allow communication betweensaid receptacles, and means provided for breaking'said conduit to alloweach of said receptacles to drain.

2. Air conditioning apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair ofcondensate receptacles, a conduit connected to said receptacles to allowcommunication therebetween, and'a breakable joint at an intermediateportion of said conduit whereby upon breaking of said joint the liquidin both of said receptacles may be drained and directed through theseparated portions of the .conduit.

3. Air conditioning apparatus comprising, in

combination, a pair of condensate receptacles, a

combination, a pair of trays removable from said apparatus, means fordraining said trays, and meansincluding said drainage means torestrictremoval ofsaid trays.

6. Air conditioning apparatus comprising. in

combination, a pair of condensate trays removable from said apparatusand having openings therein, and a conduit to allow communicationbetweensaid trays and adapted to be passed through said openings torestrict removal of said trays.

7. Air conditioning apparatus comprising, in combination, a, pair ofcondensate receptacles,

an intercommunicating conduit therebetween,

and means whereby said conduit is adapted to drain one of saidreceptacles while the other is prevented from being drained.

8 Air conditioning apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair ofcondensate receptacles, an interc'ommunicating conduit 'therebetween,and means whereby said conduit is adapted to. drain one of saidreceptacles while the other is prevented from being drained and viceversa.

9. Air conditioning apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair ofcondensate receptacles, a valve controlled outlet in each of saidreceptacles, a conduit adapted to be removably associated with each ofsaid valve outlets to permit co munication therebetween, said valveoutlets hav ing provision to be closed automatically upon removal of theconduit therefrom while the other valve outlet remains open.

10. Air conditioning apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair ofcondensate trays, a conduit extending across the ends thereof andallowing communication'therebetween, and valve controlled outletsbetween said conduit and each of said trays whereby upon disconnectionof said conduit from either of saidvvalve outlets said trays may bedrained and removed.

11. Air conditioning apparatus comprising, in

combination, a. pair .of removable condensate trays, a valve outletassociated with each of said .trays, each of said valves having arelatively combination, a pair of condensate receptacles,

and means forming a conduit adapted to allow fluid flow in eitherdirection between said receptacles, said means-having provision fordraining said receptacles.

' 13. Air conditioning apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair ofcondensate receptacles,

and means forming a conduit adapted to allow fluid flow in eitherdirection between said receptacles, said conduit including a flexibleportion.

CHARLES R. NEESON. ARTHUR S. LOCKE.

